Thousands of children are reported missing every year in America. Some children will be found and returned home. Some will not. Child abduction is a tragedy that devastates parents and touches all of us. This page tells you how to keep your children safe.

Here are some tips on how you can help keep your child safe:

Know where your children are at all times

Never leave children alone in cars

Establish strict procedures for picking children up at school, after movies, at friend's homes, etc.

Don't let your children accept rides from people with whom you haven't made prior arrangement, even if they say they are a police officer, teachers or friends of the family

Make sure your children know their full names, address, and telephone number and your full name

Make sure your children know how to reach either you or a trusted adult and how to call for police assistance

Make sure your children know when and how to call 9-1-1. Even small children can learn to dial 9-1-1 or 0 for an operator to get help

Tell your children about the abduction problem in a calm and simple way, as if you were teaching any other important coping skill

Have photographs taken of your children four times a year (especially preschoolers). Make note of birthmarks or other distinguishing features Have fingerprints taken of your children. You can bring them to the Foster City Police Department, we would be happy to fingerprint them for you

Establish a family code word. Tell your children never to go with anyone who does not know the code word

Teach Your Children:

Never leave the yard without your permission. Very small children should play only in the backyard or in a supervised play area

Not to wander off, to avoid lonely places, and not to take shortcuts through alleys or deserted areas

They are safer walking or playing with friends

Always to come straight home from school unless you've made other arrangements

Never to enter anyone's home without your prior approval

To scream, drop anything they may be carrying and run away and tell you or a trusted adult if anyone attempts to touch or grab them

Not to give any information over the telephone, text message and/or computer, particularly their name and address, or that they are alone

Never to go anywhere with anyone who does not know the family code word

To keep all doors locked and admit only authorized people into the house